Shirley Chisholm ran for the American Presidency in 1972. Chisholm was the first Black woman to be elected into Congress and decided to run for the top job and take on her white male contemporaries when the position of President became available. Chisholm wanted to give a voice to everyone who felt marginalised or unheard. From the black community to the drag artists a brave stand to take in the 1970’s.
Chisholm for President the musical is still an ongoing work in progress with the sights set on producing a full-length musical. From tonight’s performance, this has “legs” and could make for a fantastic powerful full-length musical which I believe would be positively received by a far wider audience it’s an important historical story that deserves to be heard and offers a powerful voice from the depths of the historical archives.
Madeline Appiah performs the role of Shirley Chisholm. Appiah has an incredible stage presence and voice to match. She’s believable and passionate in the role and brings the late Congress member to life.
The concert tells the powerful true story of a Black woman’s struggle against the political machine and her trailblazing run for the Democratic US presidential nomination in 1972. By the end of the musical, it feels like you have been to a political rally. In a year of elections, both the UK and America could benefit from a strong candidate like Chisholm in the race to make much-needed changes.
The original play by Zodwa Nyoni has been set to music by writer and composer Testament. There are timescales when it’s a strain to hear Appiah over the Orchestra which balances against the plight Chisholm would have fought against to be heard. This could easily be rectified with the addition of screens to show the words so the audience can read what’s she saying.
For more information about Shirley Chisholm please check out the link below and read up on this amazing lady who stood up for what she believed in and changed the history of American Politics.
Born Shirley Anita St. Chisholm in 1924, to Bajan immigrants, she was the first Black woman to be elected to Congress in 1968. Chisholm was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the first African American to make a serious bid for the Presidency of the United States of America in 1972.
Photo Credit Derrmot Daly
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/shirley-chisholm
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